Device for actuating garage doors from a distant point



March 6, 1934. MNE|L 1,950,059

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING GARAGE DOORS FROM A DISTANT POINT Filed April 25. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 6, 1934. R. MCNEIL 1,950,059

DEVICE FOR ACTUATING GARAGE DOORS FROM A DISTANT POINT Filed April 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In 001M201 Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNETED STATES DEVICE FOR ACTUATING GARAGE DOORS FROM A DISTANT POINT Richard McNeil,

Auburndale, Mass.

Application April 25, 1931, Serial No. 532,893

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to door actuating mechanism, and relates particularly to an improved device to enable doors for such structures as garages to be opened and closed from a distant point.

One of the objects of this invention provides improved means for enabling the doors of a garage to be opened from a point distant from the garage, the arrangement being such that it is unnecessary 10 for the operator to leave the automobile in order to open or close the doors. A device of this character is of considerable advantage, particularly in rainy or stormy weather.

A further object of this invention is to provide is improved mechanism for opening and closing the doors from a distant point, including means for automatically holding or locking the doors in an open position against wind pressure, and also including direct and indirect means for automatically latching or holding the doors in closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for opening and closing doors from a distant point, and to also employ means for unlatching the doors previous to their opening, and means for unlatching or releasing the holding means which had been efiective to hold the doors in an open position prior to their closing.

A further object of this invention is to provide so mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of doors from a distant point, which mechanism is of simple compact construction, the parts being inexpensive to manufacture and so disposed and arranged relative to each other that they may be readily mounted under various conditions of use. The direct door actuating elements are preferably assembled and mounted upon a common member which may be secured in position as an assembled unit.

A further object is to provide improved means for controlling the opening and closing of doors from a distant point, the controlling means outside of the garage being of such character that the connecting mechanism outside of the structure and between the operating station and the mechanism directly actuating thedoors, may be disposed either underground or above-ground.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is I shown in the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration and is more particularly described and claimed in the specification as follows:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the forward portion of a structure in section, and also showing relative arrangement of the doors and the actuating mechanism, the doors being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the doors in open position, indicating the corresponding position of the door actuating mechanism under such conditions.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a column or post mounted outside of the structure and at a distance from the doors, and also showing an actuating handle for controlling and indirectly looking the doors in a closed or open position, the handle and locking device being shown in a midway position between one in which the doors are fully opened and fully closed.

Fig. i is an enlarged view showing the vertical support and the lower portion of the operating handle and indirect locking means shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 6 is a fragment in elevation showing a portion of the structure such as a garage, and the doors in closed position, one of the doors being broken away, this view showing more particularly the arrangement of the mechanism for directly holding or latching the doors in closed position.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of Fig. 6, showing the door operating mechanism and the direct door looking or latching mechanism for retaining the door in closed position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragment diagram showing the position of the direct door latching parts when the doors are closed.

Fig. 9 is a view similarto Fig. 8, but showing the relative position of the parts after the door opening means have received their initial movement suflicient to unlatch the door to permit the doors to be swung open upon further movement I of the door controlling means.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of an enlarged view of the spring pressed locking bolt.

In the drawings, a forward portion of a structure such as a garage is shown at 1'2, and doors 3-4 are shown hingedlymounted on the structure. The opening and closing of the doors 3-4 are controlled from a distant point indicated generally by 6, by a suitable actuating means such as a handle 7 which may be mounted on any suitable support such as a post 8. When the door opening device is used for garages in order to make possible the opening and closing of doors from the automobile without the necessity of getting out of the car, the operating station 6 is located at such a distance from the closed doors as will enable the doors to be opened and will eel allow for the distance from the seat to the front of the machine. An actuating rod 9 extends from the operating station to the door actuating mechanism within the garage. One end of the rod 9 is mounted at the end of an arm 10 which swings about the post 11 as an axis, which post is rotatably mounted in brackets 12 which are supported in the main post or column 8. As a means of conveniently latching the handle or looking the same in either one of the two extreme positions, a sliding latch 13 is provided which has a spring pressed handle 14 at one end and a lip 15 at the other end, the latch being adapted to seat in or engage the notches 16-17 in either the open or the closed position. When the doors are in closed position, the handle 7 assumes the position indicated in Fig. 1. When the doors are open the handle is swung from the position indicated in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 2 so as to assume the position as shown in Fig. 2.

The door actuating mechanism is preferably mounted on a bracket 18 which is preferably bent in an irregular form in order to provide a firm mounting and support for the door actuating mechanism mounted thereon. As shown, the bracket 18 is bent to assume a flattened M form so that the two ends and the central portion thereof may be secured by suitable means to the structure.

As shown in Fig. 1, one end and the central portion of the bracket 18 are secured to the upper portion of the door frame in any suitable manner such as by screws or bolts. Fig. 7 shows more clearly the manner in which the other end 19 of the bracket is secured. As there shown, the end of the bracket is bent and is secured to the door frame or other structure by bolts or screws. The mechanism within the structure for actuating the doors comprises in general a plurality of bell cranks indicated generally at 20-21 which are pivotallymounted upon the bracket 18. The bell crank 20 is disposed preferably at a point substantially centrally of the opening for the doorway. A connection 22 isprovided between the end of one of the arms 23 of the bell crank 20, and a bracket 24 mounted on one of the doors 3, and another connection 25 is provided between the end of the other arm 26 of the bell crank 20 and a bracket 27 mounted on the other door 4 so that by rotating the bell crank 20 about its point of pivotal support 28 upon bracket 18, the doors will be either opened or closed depending upon the direction of rotation of the bell crank 20. The other bell crank 21 is preferably pivotally mounted upon the bracket 18 at a point adjacent the point where the rod 9 enters the structure, the end of the rod 9 being connected with one arm 29 of the bell crank 21 so that reciprocation i of the rod 9 will rotate the bell crank 21. A connection 30 is provided between the other arm 31 of bell crank 20 so that the movement of the rod 9, controlled through handle 7 will be transmitted to the bell crank 20 which controls the movement of the doors 34.

in order that the doors may be opened, such re leasing means being controlled from the operating station 6 outside of the structure. The latching means employed for locking the doors in closed position may include the usual type of spring pressed bolt as shown in Fig. 10, comprising a bolt 32 mounted in a suitable housing 33 with a spring 34 mounted in the housing and tending to normally urge the bolt downward so that when the doors are closed, the bolt may engage a stop or depression 3.5 on the floor of the structure to lock the doors. A connection 35 extends upwardly from a bolt 32 and is connected to one end of the lever 36 which is pivotally mounted at the point 37 upon a plate 38, which plate may be mounted in suitable manner upon the door 31 The bolt 32 is controlled through a mechanism shown mounted on the door frame which extends from a point adjacent to the bell crank 21 to a point adjacent the lever 36. This mechanism is shown as comprising aconnection or red 39 mounted in suitable brackets 49 and 41 to permit rotation of the rod 39 in said brackets. See Fig.1.) An arm 42 is mounted on the rod 39 at one end thereof and is adapted to engage the lever 36 as the arm 42 is swung downward upon rotation of the rod 39 in order that the bolt 32 may be withdrawn and released from the stop or recess in the floor to permit the doors to be swung open. i

Fig. 8 shows the relative position of the arm 42 and the lever 36 when the doors are locked, and Fig. 9 shows the relative position of the'parts when the bolt is released to permit the doorsto be swung open. As the door 3 is swung open, the lever 36 rides outward and away from contact with the arm 42 and then permits the bolt 32 to be pressed downward, but this does not retard or interfere with the further opening of the doors as the bolt has initially been released to permit the outward movement of the doors. Further, as the doors are swung inwardly the lever 36 will engage the arm 42 and raise the bolt to permit the doors to be closed and locked when the arm 42 is subsequently swung upwardly to assume the position indicated in Fig. 8. The movement of the arm 42 is controlled by a bell crank 43 mounted on the other end of the rod 39. The bell crank 43 comprises an arm 44 and an arm 45. A spring 46 is provided which normally tends to hold the bell crank in a position indicated in Fig. 9. H V

The arm 44 is so disposed as to lie within the path of movement of the arm 29 of the bell crank 21 so that when the doors are closedpthe arm 29 will engage the arm 44 and rotate the rod 39 so that the arm 42 on the other end of the rod 39 willbe moved upward to the position indicated in Fig. 8 so as to'permit the bolt 32 to be lowered into its locking position. In order to open the doors, there is suflicient lost motion in the con-. nections to permit the arm29 to be moved a sufii cient distance in its'initial movement to release the bolt 32 so that a continued movement of the arm 29 would serve to positively open the doors.

If desired'a suitable lock may be provided at'the operating station for fixing or looking the latch 13 upon the handle 7 whenthe handle is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 with the doors in closed position; Of course, such a lock alsolcould be employed in an open position if so desired. Such a securing means for locking the aoors m closed position, serves as an additional indirect locking means to prevent unauthorized'persons from opening the 'doors' orentering the garage or other structure, and would serve much the same arranged that when the doors are closed the.

purpose as the usual lock ordinarily placed directly upon'the doors. This locking means is in addition to the direct locking means provided by the spring pressed bolt 32 which serves to positively and directly hold the doors in closed position. The spring pressed bolt within the structure, can only be released upon actuating the door controlling means from the operating station outside of the structure and at a distance from the doors.

While one preferred form of the invention has been shown herein for purposes of illustration, it is understood that various changes may be made in the detail construction and the arrangement and mounting of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors outwardly on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a second bell crank mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank, and means for actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the structure.

2. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a second bell crank mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank, a means for actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the structure, locking means on one of the doors for locking the doors in closed position and independent actuating means for said locking means arranged in cooperative relation with the second bell crank of said door actuating mechanism so that the initial movement of the second bell crank is effective to release the locking means to permit the doors to be opened.

3. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a second bell crank pivotally mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank, a means for actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the structure, locking means on one of the doors for locking the doors in closed position and actuating means for said locking means arranged in cooperative relation with said door actuating mechanism so that the initial movement of the door actuating mechanism is effective to release the locking means to permit the doors to be opened, said locking means including a spring pressed bolt, a mechanism mounted on the door for actuating said bolt and including a pivoted member, a mechanism mounted on the door frame and extending from a point adjacent said pivoted lever to a point adjacent to the second bell crank so spring bolt is in looking position, said bolt being released by the initial movement of the second bell crank, said mechanism mounted on the upper portion of the door frame including a rod rotatably mounted, an arm at one end of the rod and adapted to be swung downwardly to engage the pivoted lever mounted on the door, an arm mounted on said rod at the other end thereof and arranged to engage said second bell crank when the doors are closed so that the arm mounted at the other end of said rodis moved to a position in which said arm permits the spring pressed bolt to be moved to locking position, and a resilient means tending to rotate said rod in a position to release the locking bolt upon slight initial movement of said second bell crank in opening the doors.

4. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket mounted above the doors and extending from a point centrally of the door opening to one side thereof, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket ubstantially centrally of the door opening and at a distance spaced inwardly from the plane of the closed doors, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a second bell crank mounted on said bracket at one side of the doors, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank and means for actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the structure.

5. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a second bell crank mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank and means for 1 actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the structure, said last named means including a connection extending from the operating station to said second bell crank and means at the operating station for moving said connection to efiect the opening or closing movement of the doors.

6. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connection between one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a

second bell crank mounted on said bracket, a 35 means including a post rotatably mounted having an arm connected to the connection extending to said second bell crank lever, and a handle for rotating said post to efiect longitudinal movement of said connection to the second bell crank and stops for securing said handle in either one 350 of two. positions corresponding to positions in which the doors are opened or closed.

7. Mechanism for actuating hinged doors on a structure from an operating station exterior to the structure, comprising a bracket, a bell crank rotatably mounted on said bracket, a connectionibetween one arm of said bell crank and one of the doors, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and the other door, a

second bell crank, a connection between one arm of said second bell crank and said first bell crank and means for actuating said second bell crank from an operating station outside of the strucifs 

